TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN INDIAN RIVER BANKING COMPANY AND WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION EFFECTIVE AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2002

Exhibit 10.49

 

TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE AGREEMENT

 

BY AND BETWEEN

 

INDIAN RIVER BANKING COMPANY AND

 

▇▇▇▇▇ FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

 

EFFECTIVE AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2002

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION

    1

      Section 1.1

    Definitions and Interpretation    1

ARTICLE II TRUST INDENTURE ACT

    5

Section 2.1

    Indenture Act; Application    5

Section 2.2

    Lists of Holders of Securities    5

Section 2.3

    Reports by the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee    5

Section 2.4

    Reports to Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee    6

Section 2.5

    Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent    6

Section 2.6

    Event of Default; Waiver    6

Section 2.7

    Event of Default; Notice    6

Section 2.8

    Conflicting Interests    7

ARTICLE III POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF TRUST PREFERRED GUARANTEE TRUSTEE

    7

Section 3.1

    Powers and Duties of the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee    7

Section 3.2

    Certain Rights of Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee    9

Section 3.3

    Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Guarantee    11

ARTICLE IV TRUST PREFERRED GUARANTEE TRUSTEE

    11

Section 4.1

    Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility    11

Section 4.2

    Appointment, Removal and Resignation of Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustees    12

ARTICLE V GUARANTEE

    13

Section 5.1

    Guarantee    13

Section 5.2

    Waiver of Notice and Demand    13

Section 5.3

    Obligations not Affected    13

Section 5.4

    Rights of Holders    14

Section 5.5

    Guarantee of Payment    14

Section 5.6

    Subrogation    14

Section 5.7

    Independent Obligations    15

ARTICLE VI LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION

    15

 

-i-

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

          Page

      Section 6.1

    Limitation of Transactions    15

Section 6.2

    Ranking    16

ARTICLE VII TERMINATION

    16

Section 7.1

    Termination    16

ARTICLE VIII INDEMNIFICATION

    16

Section 8.1

    Exculpation    16

Section 8.2

    Indemnification    17

ARTICLE IX MISCELLANEOUS

    17

Section 9.1

    Successors and Assigns    17

Section 9.2

    Amendments    17

Section 9.3

    Notices    18

Section 9.4

    Benefit    18

Section 9.5

    Governing Law    18

 

-ii-

TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE AGREEMENT

 

THIS TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE AGREEMENT (this “Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee”), effective as of September 30, 2002, is executed and delivered by Indian River Banking Company, a Florida corporation (the “Guarantor”), and ▇▇▇▇▇ Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (the “Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee”), for the benefit of the Holders (as defined herein) from time to time of the Trust Preferred Securities (as defined herein) of Indian River Capital Trust I, a Delaware statutory business trust (the “Trust”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to an Amended and Restated Trust Agreement (the “Trust Agreement”), effective as of September 30, 2002, among the trustees of the Trust named therein, the Guarantor, as depositor, and the holders from time to time of undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust, the Trust is issuing on the date hereof up to Seven Thousand (7,000) preferred securities, having an aggregate liquidation amount of Seven Million Dollars ($7,000,000), and such preferred securities being designated the Floating Rate Cumulative Trust Preferred Securities (the “Trust Preferred Securities”);

 

WHEREAS, as incentive for the Holders to purchase the Trust Preferred Securities, the Guarantor desires irrevocably and unconditionally to agree, to the extent set forth in this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee, to pay to the Holders of the Trust Preferred Securities the Guarantee Payments (as defined herein) and to make certain other payments on the terms and conditions set forth herein.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the purchase by each Holder of Trust Preferred Securities, which purchase the Guarantor hereby agrees shall benefit the Guarantor, the Guarantor executes and delivers this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee for the benefit of the Holders.

 

ARTICLE I

 

DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION

 

Section 1.1 Definitions and Interpretation.

 

In this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee, unless the context otherwise requires:

 

(a) capitalized terms used herein but not defined in the preamble above have the respective meanings assigned to them in this Section 1.1;

 

(b) terms defined in the Trust Agreement as of the date of execution of this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee have the same meaning when used in this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee, unless otherwise defined in this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee;

 

(c) a term defined anywhere in this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee has the same meaning throughout;

(d) all references to “the Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee” or “this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee” are to this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee as modified, supplemented or amended from time to time;

 

(e) all references in this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee to Articles and Sections are to Articles and Sections of this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee, unless otherwise specified;

 

(f) a term defined in the Trust Indenture Act (as defined below) has the same meaning when used in this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee, unless otherwise defined in this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee or unless the context otherwise requires; and

 

(g) a reference to the singular includes the plural and vice versa.

 

“Affiliate” has the same meaning as given to that term in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any successor rule thereunder.

 

“Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday, a day on which federal or state banking institutions in Vero Beach, Florida, Wilmington, Delaware or Minneapolis, Minnesota are authorized or required by law, executive order or regulation to close or a day on which the Corporate Trust Office of the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee is closed for business.

 

“Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee at which the corporate trust business of the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall, at any particular time, be principally administered, which office at the date of execution of this Agreement is located at ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, Attention: Corporate Trust Administration.

 

“Covered Person” means any Holder or beneficial owner of Trust Preferred Securities.

 

“Debentures” means the Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures due November 7, 2032, of the Debenture Issuer held by the Property Trustee (as defined in the Trust Agreement) on behalf of the Trust.

 

“Debenture Issuer” means Indian River Banking Company, issuer of the Debentures under the Indenture.

 

“Event of Default” means a default by the Guarantor on any of its payment or other obligations under this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee.

 

“Guarantee Payments” means the following payments or distributions, without duplication, with respect to the Trust Preferred Securities, to the extent not paid or made by the Trust: (i) any accumulated and unpaid Distributions (as defined in the Trust Agreement) that are required to be paid on such Trust Preferred Securities, to the extent the Trust shall have funds legally available therefor, (ii) the redemption price, including all accumulated and unpaid Distributions to the date of redemption (the “Redemption Price”), to the extent the Trust has funds legally available therefor, with respect to any Trust Preferred Securities called for redemption by the Trust, and (iii) upon a voluntary or involuntary dissolution, winding-up or

 

-2-

termination of the Trust (other than in connection with the distribution of Debentures to the Holders in exchange for Trust Preferred Securities as provided in the Trust Agreement), the lesser of (a) the aggregate of the liquidation amount and all accumulated and unpaid Distributions on the Trust Preferred Securities to the date of payment, to the extent the Trust shall have funds legally available therefor, and (b) the amount of assets of the Trust remaining legally available for distribution to Holders in liquidation of the Trust (the “Liquidation Distribution”).

 

“Holder” shall mean any holder, as registered on the books and records of the Trust, of any Trust Preferred Securities; provided, however, that, in determining whether the holders of the requisite percentage of Trust Preferred Securities have given any request, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, “Holder” shall not include the Guarantor or the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee; provided, further, that the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall be protected in acting on any such request, notice, consent or waiver unless a Responsible Officer of the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall have actual knowledge that the holder of such Trust Preferred Securities is the Guarantor.

 

“Indemnified Person” means the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee, any Affiliate of the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee, or any officers, directors, shareholders, members, partners, employees, representatives, nominees, custodians or agents of the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee.

 

“Indenture” means the Indenture effective as of September 30, 2002, among the Debenture Issuer and ▇▇▇▇▇ Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee, and any indenture supplemental thereto pursuant to which certain subordinated debt securities of the Debenture Issuer are to be issued to the Property Trustee on behalf of the Trust.

 

“Liquidation Amount” means the stated value of $1,000 per Trust Preferred Security.

 

“Liquidation Distribution” has the meaning provided therefor in the definition of Guarantee Payments.

 

“List of Holders” has the meaning provided therefor in Section 2.2(a) hereof.

 

“Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Trust Preferred Securities” means the Holders of more than 50% of the Liquidation Amount of the Outstanding (as defined in the Trust Agreement) Trust Preferred Securities.

 

“Officers’ Certificate” means, with respect to any Person, a certificate signed by two authorized officers of such Person, at least one of whom shall be the principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer, treasurer or any vice president of such Person. Any Officers’ Certificate delivered with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee shall include:

 

(a) a statement that each officer signing the Officers’ Certificate has read the covenant or condition and the definition relating thereto;

 

-3-

(b) a brief statement of the nature and scope of the examination or investigation undertaken by each officer in rendering the Officers’ Certificate;

 

(c) a statement that each such officer has made such examination or investigation as, in such officer’s opinion, is necessary to enable such officer to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and

 

(d) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such officer, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

 

“Person” means a legal person, including any individual, corporation, estate, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, limited liability company, trust, unincorporated association, or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity of whatever nature.

 

“Redemption Price” has the meaning provided therefor in the definition of Guarantee Payments.

 

“Responsible Officer” means, with respect to the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee, any officer within the Corporate Trust Office of the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee with direct responsibility for the administration of this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee, including any vice-president, any assistant vice-president, any assistant secretary or other officer or assistant officer of the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the Persons who at the time shall be such officers, or to whom a corporate trust matter is referred because of that officer’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

 

“Securities Register” and “Securities Registrar” have the meanings provided for each in the Trust Agreement.

 

“Successor Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee” means a successor Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee possessing the qualifications to act as Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee under Section 4.1 hereof.

 

“Trust Agreement” has the meaning provided therefor in the Recitals hereof.

 

“Trust Indenture Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 or any successor statute thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

 

“Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee” means ▇▇▇▇▇ Fargo Bank, National Association, in its capacity as trustee under this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee until a Successor Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment pursuant to the terms of this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee and thereafter means each such Successor Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee.

 

-4-

ARTICLE II

 

TRUST INDENTURE ACT

 

Section 2.1 Indenture Act; Application.

 

(a) Unless and until the Indenture is required to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act so that the provisions thereof are applicable (i) the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act do not apply to this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee and are not given effect; and (ii) notwithstanding any other provision set forth herein, the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable for its own simple negligence, but shall only be liable for its own gross negligence.

 

(b) If and to the extent that any provision of this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by Section 310 to 317, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act, and the Indenture is then required to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act so that the provisions thereof are applicable, such imposed duties shall control.

 

Section 2.2 Lists of Holders of Securities.

 

(a) In the event the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee is not also the Securities Registrar, the Guarantor shall provide the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee with a list, in such form as the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders (“List of Holders”) as of the date (i) within five (5) Business Days after March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15, and (ii) at any other time within 30 days of receipt by the Guarantor of a written request for a List of Holders as of a date no more than 15 days before such List of Holders is given to the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee; provided, that the Guarantor shall not be obligated to provide such List of Holders at any time the List of Holders does not differ from the most recent List of Holders given to the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee by the Guarantor. The Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee may destroy any List of Holders previously given to it on receipt of a new List of Holders.

 

(b) If applicable, the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall comply with its obligations under Sections 311(a), 311(b) and Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

Section 2.3 Reports by the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee.

 

(a) On or before July 15th in each year in which any of the Trust Preferred Securities are Outstanding, the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, to the Holders, as their names and addresses appear upon the Securities Register, a brief report dated as of the preceding May 15, if and to the extent required under Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, if applicable (it being understood that no such report shall be required if none of the events set forth in Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act has occurred during the period to which such report would relate).

 

-5-

(b) The Trust Preferred Guarantee shall comply with Sections 313(b) and 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act, if applicable.

 

(c) A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to the Holders, be filed by the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee with the Company, with each stock exchange or applicable self-regulatory organization upon which any Trust Preferred Securities are listed (if so listed) and also with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company agrees to notify the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee when any Trust Preferred Securities become listed on any stock exchange or other applicable self-regulatory organization.

 

Section 2.4 Reports to Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee.

 

If applicable, the Guarantor shall provide to the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee such documents, reports and information as required by Section 314 (if any) and the compliance certificate required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act in the form, in the manner and at the times required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

Section 2.5 Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent.

 

If applicable, the Guarantor shall provide to the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee such evidence of compliance with any conditions precedent provided for in this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee that relate to any of the matters set forth in Section 314(c) of the Trust Indenture Act. Any certificate or opinion required to be given by an officer pursuant to Section 314(c)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act may be given in the form of an Officers’ Certificate.

 

Section 2.6 Event of Default; Waiver.

 

The Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of Trust Preferred Securities may, by vote, on behalf of the Holders of all of the Trust Preferred Securities, waive any past Event of Default and its consequences. Upon such waiver, any such Event of Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

Section 2.7 Event of Default; Notice.

 

The Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall, within ninety (90) days after the occurrence of an Event of Default, transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, to the Holders of the Trust Preferred Securities, notices of all Events of Default actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee, unless such defaults have been cured before the giving of such notice; provided, that, except in the case of a default by Guarantor on any of its payment obligations, the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee or a trust committee of the directors and/or Responsible Officers of the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Holders of the Trust Preferred Securities.

 

-6-

The Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any Event of Default unless the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall have received written notice of such Event of Default, or a Responsible Officer of the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee charged with the administration of the Trust Agreement shall have obtained actual knowledge of such Event of Default.

 

Section 2.8 Conflicting Interests.

 

The Trust Agreement shall be deemed to be specifically described in this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee for the purposes of clause (i) of the first proviso contained in Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, if applicable.

 

ARTICLE III

 

POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF TRUST PREFERRED GUARANTEE TRUSTEE

 

Section 3.1 Powers and Duties of the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee.

 

(a) This Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee shall be held by the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee for the benefit of the Holders of the Trust Preferred Securities, and the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall not transfer this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee to any Person except a Holder of Trust Preferred Securities exercising his or her rights pursuant to Section 5.4(b) hereof or to a Successor Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee on acceptance by such Successor Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee of its appointment to act as Successor Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee. The right, title and interest of the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall automatically vest in any Successor Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee, and such vesting and cessation of title shall be effective whether or not conveyancing documents have been executed and delivered pursuant to the appointment of such Successor Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee.

 

(b) If an Event of Default actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee has occurred and is continuing, the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall enforce this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee for the benefit of the Holders of the Trust Preferred Securities.

 

(c) The Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee, before the occurrence of any Event of Default and after the curing of all Events of Default that may have occurred, shall undertake to perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee. In case an Event of Default has occurred (that has not been cured or waived pursuant to Section 2.6 hereof) and is actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee, the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee, and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise thereof, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs. No implied covenants shall be read into the Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee against the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee.

 

-7-

(d) No provision of this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee shall be construed to relieve the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:

 

  (i) prior to the occurrence of any Event of Default and after the curing or waiving of all such Events of Default that may have occurred:

 

  (A) the duties and obligations of the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee, and the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable except for the performance of such duties and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee against the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee; and

 

  (B) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee, the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions that by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee, the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine in good faith whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee;

 

  (ii) the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer of the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts upon which such judgment was made;

 

  (iii) the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of not less than a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Trust Preferred Securities relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee under this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee; and

 

  (iv) no provision of this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee shall require the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or

 

-8-

otherwise incur personal financial liability in the performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall have reasonable grounds for believing that the repayment of such funds or liability is not reasonably assured to it under the terms of this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee or indemnity, reasonably satisfactory to the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee, against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

 

Section 3.2 Certain Rights of Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee.

 

  (a) Subject to the provisions of Section 3.1(d) hereof:

 

  (i) The Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee may conclusively rely, and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting upon, any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document reasonably believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or presented by the proper party or parties.

 

  (ii) Any direction or act of the Guarantor contemplated by this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officers’ Certificate.

 

  (iii) Whenever, in the administration of this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee, the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established before taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee (unless other evidence is herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, request and conclusively rely upon an Officers’ Certificate which, upon receipt of such request, shall be promptly delivered by the Guarantor.

 

  (iv) The Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall have no duty to see to any recording, filing or registration of any instrument (or any rerecording, refiling or reregistration thereof).

 

  (v) The Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee may consult with counsel, and the written advice or opinion of such counsel with respect to legal matters shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with such advice or opinion. Such counsel may be counsel to the Guarantor or any of its Affiliates and may include any of its employees. The Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall have the right at any time to seek instructions concerning the administration of this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee from any court of competent jurisdiction.

 

-9-

  (vi) The Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee at the request or direction of any Holder, unless such Holder shall have provided to the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee such security and indemnity, reasonably satisfactory to the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee, against the costs, expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses and the expenses of the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee’s agents, nominees or custodians) and liabilities that might be incurred by it in complying with such request or direction, including such reasonable advances as may be requested by the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee; provided that, nothing contained in this Section 3.2(a)(vi) shall be taken to relieve the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, of which the Trust Preferred Guarantee has actual knowledge, of its obligation to exercise the rights and powers vested in it by this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee.

 

  (vii) The Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit.

 

  (viii) The Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents, nominees, custodians or attorneys, and the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder.

 

  (ix) Any action taken by the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee or its agents hereunder shall bind the Holders of the Trust Preferred Securities, and the signature of the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee or its agents alone shall be sufficient and effective to perform any such action. No third party shall be required to inquire as to the authority of the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee to so act or as to its compliance with any of the terms and provisions of this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee, both of which shall be conclusively evidenced by the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee’s or its agent’s taking such action.

 

  (x) Whenever in the administration of this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall deem it desirable to receive instructions with respect to enforcing any remedy or right or taking any other action hereunder, the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee (i) may request instructions from the Holders of a Majority in Liquidation

 

-10-

Amount of the Trust Preferred Securities, (ii) may refrain from enforcing such remedy or right or taking such other action until such instructions are received, and (iii) shall be protected in conclusively relying on or acting in good faith in accordance with such instructions.

 

(b) No provision of this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee shall be deemed to impose any duty or obligation on the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee to perform any act or acts or exercise any right, power, duty or obligation conferred or imposed on it in any jurisdiction in which it shall be illegal, or in which the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall be unqualified or incompetent in accordance with applicable law, to perform any such act or acts or to exercise any such right, power, duty or obligation. No permissive power or authority available to the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall be construed to be a duty.

 

Section 3.3 Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Guarantee.

 

The recitals contained in this Guarantee shall be taken as the statements of the Guarantor, and the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee does not assume any responsibility for their correctness. The Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or sufficiency of this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

TRUST PREFERRED GUARANTEE TRUSTEE

 

Section 4.1 Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility.

 

  (a) There shall at all times be a Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee which shall:

 

  (i) not be an Affiliate of the Guarantor; and

 

  (ii) be an entity organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or any State or Territory thereof or of the District of Columbia, or a Person permitted by the Securities and Exchange Commission to act as a resident trustee under the Trust Indenture Act, authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000, and subject to supervision or examination by applicable federal, state, territorial or District of Columbia authority. If such Person publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining authority referred to above, then, for the purposes of this Section 4.1(a)(ii), the combined capital and surplus of such Person shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published.

 

-11-

(b) If at any time the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall cease to be eligible to so act under Section 4.1(a), the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall immediately resign in the manner and with the effect set out in Section 4.2(c).

 

(c) If the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee has or shall acquire any “conflicting interest” within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act and the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act are then applicable, the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee and Guarantor shall in all respects comply with the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

Section 4.2 Appointment, Removal and Resignation of Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustees.

 

(a) Subject to Section 4.2(b), the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee may be appointed or removed without cause at any time by the Guarantor.

 

(b) The Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall not be removed in accordance with Section 4.2(a) until a Successor Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment by written instrument executed by such Successor Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor and the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee.

 

(c) The Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee appointed to office shall hold office until a Successor Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall have been appointed or until its removal or resignation. The Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee may at any time resign from office (without need for prior or subsequent accounting) by an instrument in writing executed by the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor, which resignation shall not take effect until a Successor Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment by instrument in writing executed by such Successor Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor and the resigning Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee.

 

(d) If no Successor Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall have been appointed and accepted appointment as provided in this Section 4.2 within 60 days after delivery to the Guarantor of an instrument of resignation, the resigning Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for appointment of a Successor Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee. Such court may thereupon, after prescribing such notice, if any, as it may deem proper, appoint a Successor Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee.

 

(e) No Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall be liable for the acts or omissions to act of any Successor Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee.

 

(f) Upon termination of this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee or removal or resignation of the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee pursuant to this Section 4.2, the Guarantor shall pay to the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee all documented fees and expenses accrued to the date of such termination, removal or resignation.

 

-12-

ARTICLE V

 

GUARANTEE

 

Section 5.1 Guarantee.

 

The Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to pay in full to the Holders the Guarantee Payments (without duplication of amounts theretofore paid by the Trust), as and when due, regardless of any defense, right of set-off or counterclaim that the Trust may have or assert. The Guarantor’s obligation to make a Guarantee Payment may be satisfied by direct payment of the required amounts by the Guarantor to the Holders or by causing the Trust to pay such amounts to the Holders.

 

Section 5.2 Waiver of Notice and Demand.

 

The Guarantor hereby waives notice of acceptance of this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee and of any liability to which it applies or may apply, presentment, demand for payment, any right to require a proceeding first against the Trust or any other Person before proceeding against the Guarantor, protest, notice of nonpayment, notice of dishonor, notice of redemption and all other notices and demands.

 

Section 5.3 Obligations not Affected.

 

The obligations, covenants, agreements and duties of the Guarantor under this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee shall in no way be affected or impaired by reason of the happening from time to time of any of the following:

 

(a) the release or waiver, by operation of law or otherwise, of the performance or observance by the Trust of any express or implied agreement, covenant, term or condition relating to the Trust Preferred Securities to be performed or observed by the Trust;

 

(b) the extension of time for the payment by the Trust of all or any portion of the Distributions, Redemption Price, Liquidation Distribution or any other sums payable under the terms of the Trust Preferred Securities or the extension of time for the performance of any other obligation under, arising out of, or in connection with, the Trust Preferred Securities (other than an extension of time for payment of Distributions, Redemption Price, Liquidation Distribution or other sum payable that results from the extension of any interest payment period on the Debentures permitted by the Indenture);

 

(c) any failure, omission, delay or lack of diligence on the part of the Holders to enforce, assert or exercise any right, privilege, power or remedy conferred on the Holders pursuant to the terms of the Trust Preferred Securities, or any action on the part of the Trust granting indulgence or extension of any kind;

 

(d) the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, sale of any collateral, receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, reorganization, arrangement, composition or readjustment of debt of, or other similar proceedings affecting, the Trust or any of the assets of the Trust;

 

-13-

(e) any invalidity of, or defect or deficiency in, the Trust Preferred Securities;

 

(f) any failure or omission to receive any regulatory approval or consent required in connection with the Trust Preferred Securities (or the common equity securities issued by the Trust), including the failure to receive any approval of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System required for the redemption of the Trust Preferred Securities;

 

(g) the settlement or compromise of any obligation guaranteed hereby or hereby incurred; or

 

(h) any other circumstance whatsoever that might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor, it being the intent of this Section 5.3 that the obligations of the Guarantor hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional under any and all circumstances.

 

There shall be no obligation of the Holders to give notice to, or obtain consent of, the Guarantor with respect to the happening of any of the foregoing.

 

Section 5.4 Rights of Holders.

 

(a) Subject to Section 5.4(b), the Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Trust Preferred Securities have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting of any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee in respect of this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee under this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee.

 

(b) Any Holder of Trust Preferred Securities may institute and prosecute a legal proceeding directly against the Guarantor to enforce its rights under this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee, without first instituting and prosecuting a legal proceeding against the Trust, the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee or any other Person.

 

Section 5.5 Guarantee of Payment.

 

This Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee creates a guarantee of payment and not of collection.

 

Section 5.6 Subrogation.

 

The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all (if any) rights of the Holders against the Trust in respect of any amounts paid to such Holders by the Guarantor under this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee; provided, however, that the Guarantor shall not (except to the extent required by mandatory provisions of law) be entitled to enforce or exercise any right that it may acquire by way of subrogation or any indemnity, reimbursement or other agreement, in all cases

 

-14-

as a result of payment under this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee, if, at the time of any such payment, any amounts are due and unpaid under this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee. If any amount shall be paid to the Guarantor in violation of the preceding sentence, the Guarantor agrees to hold such amount in trust for the Holders and to pay over such amount to the Holders.

 

Section 5.7 Independent Obligations.

 

The Guarantor acknowledges that its obligations hereunder are independent of the obligations of the Trust with respect to the Trust Preferred Securities, and that the Guarantor shall be liable as principal and as debtor hereunder to make Guarantee Payments pursuant to the terms of this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee notwithstanding the occurrence of any event referred to in subsections (a) through (h), inclusive, of Section 5.3 hereof.

 

ARTICLE VI

 

LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION

 

Section 6.1 Limitation of Transactions.

 

So long as any of the Trust Preferred Securities remain outstanding, if there shall have occurred an Event of Default under this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee, an event of default under the Indenture, an event of default under the Trust Agreement or during an Extended Interest Payment Period (as defined in the Indenture), then

 

(a) the Guarantor shall not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, declare or pay any dividends on, make any distributions with respect to, or redeem, purchase, acquire or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of its capital stock (other than (1) dividends or distributions in shares of, or options, warrants or rights to subscribe for or purchase shares of, common stock of the Guarantor or such Subsidiary, (2) any declaration of a dividend in connection with the implementation of a shareholder’s rights plan, or the issuance of stock under any such plan in the future, or the redemption or repurchase of any such rights pursuant thereto, (3) purchases of common stock of the Guarantor related to the issuance of such common stock under any of the Guarantor’s employee benefit plans for its directors, officers or employees, (4) as a result of a reclassification of any class or series of the Guarantor’s capital stock solely into another class or series of the Guarantor’s capital stock, or (5) declarations or payments of dividends or distributions payable by a Subsidiary of the Guarantor to the Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries);

 

(b) the Guarantor shall not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, make any payment of interest, principal or premium, if any, or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities issued by the Guarantor which rank pari passu with or junior to the Debentures;

 

(c) the Guarantor shall not make any guarantee payments with respect to any guarantee by the Guarantor of the debt securities of any Subsidiary of the Guarantor if such guarantee ranks pari passu with or junior in interest to the Debentures; provided, however, that the Guarantor may make payments pursuant to its obligations under the Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee; and

 

-15-

(d) the Guarantor shall not redeem, purchase or acquire less than all of the Outstanding (as defined in the Indenture) Debentures or any of the Trust Preferred Securities.

 

Section 6.2 Ranking.

 

This Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee will constitute an unsecured obligation of the Guarantor and will rank subordinate and junior in right of payment to all Senior Debt, Subordinated Debt and Additional Senior Obligations, each as defined in the Indenture, of the Guarantor, to the extent and in the manner set forth in the Indenture, and the applicable provisions of the Indenture will apply, in all relevant respects, to the obligations of the Guarantor hereunder.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

TERMINATION

 

Section 7.1 Termination.

 

This Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee shall terminate (a) upon full payment of the Redemption Price of all Trust Preferred Securities, (b) upon full payment of the amounts payable in accordance with the Trust Agreement upon dissolution and liquidation of the Trust, or (c) upon distribution of the Debentures to the Holders of the Trust Preferred Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee shall continue to be effective or shall be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any Holder of Trust Preferred Securities must restore payment of any sums paid under the Trust Preferred Securities or under this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee.

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

INDEMNIFICATION

 

Section 8.1 Exculpation.

 

(a) No Indemnified Person shall be liable, responsible or accountable in damages or otherwise to the Guarantor or any Covered Person for any loss, damage or claim incurred by reason of any act or omission performed or omitted by such Indemnified Person in good faith in accordance with this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee and in a manner that such Indemnified Person reasonably believed to be within the scope of the authority conferred on such Indemnified Person by this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee or by law, except that an Indemnified Person shall be liable for any such loss, damage or claim incurred by reason of such Indemnified Person’s negligence or willful misconduct with respect to such acts or omissions.

 

-16-

(b) An Indemnified Person shall be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the records of the Guarantor and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Guarantor or the Indemnified Person by any Person as to matters the Indemnified Person reasonably believes are within such other Person’s professional or expert competence and who the Indemnified Person reasonably believes has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Guarantor, including information, opinions, reports or statements as to the value and amount of the assets, liabilities, profits, losses, or any other facts pertinent to the existence and amount of assets from which Distributions to Holders of Trust Preferred Securities might properly be paid.

 

Section 8.2 Indemnification.

 

The Guarantor agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Person for, and to hold each Indemnified Person harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred without negligence or willful misconduct on its part, arising out of or in connection with this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee and the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder, including the costs and expenses (including reasonable legal fees and expenses) of defending itself against, or investigating, any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder, except as may be otherwise prohibited by applicable law or regulation. The obligation to indemnify as set forth in this Section 8.2 shall survive the termination of this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee.

 

ARTICLE IX

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 9.1 Successors and Assigns.

 

All guarantees and agreements contained in this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee shall bind the successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and representatives of the Guarantor and shall inure to the benefit of the Holders of the Trust Preferred Securities then outstanding.

 

Section 9.2 Amendments.

 

Except with respect to any changes that do not materially adversely affect the rights of Holders (in which case no consent of Holders will be required), this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee may only be amended by the Guarantor with the prior approval of the Holders of at least a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Trust Preferred Securities. The provisions of Article VI of the Trust Agreement with respect to meetings of Holders apply to the giving of such approval. Prior to the execution of any amendment to this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee, the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall be entitled to receive and conclusively rely on an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amendment is authorized or permitted by this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee and that all conditions precedent to such execution and delivery have been satisfied. The Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such amendment which affects the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee’s rights, duties or immunities under this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee, provided, however, that no such amendment shall be effective without the consent of the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee.

 

-17-

Section 9.3 Notices.

 

All notices provided for in this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee shall be in writing, duly signed by the party giving such notice, and shall be delivered, telecopied or mailed by registered or certified mail, as follows:

 

(a) If given to the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee, at the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee’s mailing address set forth below (or such other address as the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee may give notice of to the Holders of the Trust Preferred Securities and the Guarantor):

 

▇▇▇▇▇ Fargo Bank, National Association

▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇

▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇

Attention: Corporate Trust Administration

 

(b) If given to the Guarantor, at the Guarantor’s mailing address set forth below (or such other address as the Guarantor may give notice of to the Holders of the Trust Preferred Securities and the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee):

 

Indian River Banking Company

▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇

▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇

Attention: Chief Executive Officer

 

(c) If given to any Holder of Trust Preferred Securities, at the address set forth on the books and records of the Trust. All such notices shall be deemed to have been given when received in person, telecopied with receipt confirmed, or mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid except that if a notice or other document is refused delivery or cannot be delivered because of a changed address of which no notice was given, such notice or other document shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date of such refusal or inability to deliver.

 

Section 9.4 Benefit.

 

This Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee is solely for the benefit of the Holders of the Trust Preferred Securities and the Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee and, subject to Section 3.1(a) and Section 4.2 hereof, as applicable is not separately transferable from the Trust Preferred Securities.

 

Section 9.5 Governing Law.

 

THIS TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS ▇▇

 

-▇▇-

▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ WITHOUT REGARD TO ITS CHOICE OF LAW PROVISIONS. THE PARTIES HERETO CONSENT TO THE NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF NEW YORK.

 

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

 

-19-

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee is dated as set forth below and effective as of September 30, 2002.

 

Indian River Banking Company, as

Guarantor

By:

  

/s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇

Name:

  

▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇

Title:

  

President & CEO

Date:

  

September 26, 2002

▇▇▇▇▇ Fargo Bank, National Association, as

Trust Preferred Guarantee Trustee

By:

  

/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇.

Name:

  

▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇.

Title:

  

Vice President

Date:

  

 

 

[Signature Page to Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee Agreement]

Document Metadata

Filed: March 12th, 2004